AIOU, HEC to prepare national policy on distance learning system

ISLAMABAD, Dec 1 (APP): Allama Iqbal Open University and Higher Education Commission will jointly hold a national conference early next month to prepare a national policy on Open Distance Learning (ODL) system.
Such a policy is direly needed since some other institutions have also come up to educate the people through the ODL, said a news release issued here on Tuesday.
AIOU being the pioneer and first in Asia following this mode of education wishes to play a leading role in this connection, said Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui
while reviewing the arrangements of the conference. The institutions’ representatives from all over the country and an expert on ODL from Commonwealth, Canada were being invited
to attend conference.The proposed policy will also help to institutionalize the ODL
and promote coordination and exchanges among the relevant institutions to ensure quality of education and provide possible services to the students. The AIOU will provide its academic and professional support for the purpose, Dr Siddiqui added.He said they need to cope with the new changes in ODL system, through a better strategy and coordinated approach. The conference’s recommendations will be presented to the federal government
for approval and implementation.The national policy on ODL will help expand the educational
network and improve quality of education through non-formal or online system as well as its acceptability in society. It will also be in line with the government’s policy to promote
online learning, the VC said.